How does Volvo weather leather now?

[Duke]

My sister owns a V70 thats about 11 years old. I've noticed in her car
what I've noticed in a few Volvos--that the leather seems to crack and
degrade, not aging gracefully. I am considering purchasing a 2002 to 2004
S80. Should I be concerned? Has the quality of leather improved yet?

Duke

 

[Pat Durkin]

My sister owns a V70 thats about 11 years old. I've noticed in her car
what I've noticed in a few Volvos--that the leather seems to crack and
degrade, not aging gracefully. I am considering purchasing a 2002 to 2004
S80. Should I be concerned? Has the quality of leather improved yet?

I own an '01 S80. It's junk. The leather began to crack right around the
33rd month. Although the car was still under warranty at the time it never
seriously occured to me to try to get it repaired at no cost to me under
Volvo's warranty. I'm certain they would have told me to take a hike.

The '02 may be 100% better but I doubt it.

I might add that I've owned lots of cars over the years with leather
upholstery. None have been this bad.

Pat

 

[Aawara Chowdhury]

In <[email protected]>,

My sister owns a V70 thats about 11 years old.

That's quite a feat. The V70 has been available stateside since 1998 (maybe
'97 in the European market).

I've noticed in her car
what I've noticed in a few Volvos--that the leather seems to crack and
degrade, not aging gracefully. I am considering purchasing a 2002 to 2004
S80. Should I be concerned? Has the quality of leather improved yet?

All leather has to be regularly conditioned. Car seats get exposed to
extremes in temperature (sometimes over a short period of time - hot day
turn the AC on, cold day turn the heater on). Routine conditioning keeps
the leather supple, and prevents cracking.

AC

 

[zencraps]

I bought a '90 740 for my wife recently, the black leather interior was
fine.

Some cracks, no tears.

I conditioned it, and regularly condition it: soft, supple, should last
nearly forever.

People, these cars are like human relationships: you gotta put in time
and effort to maintain them if you want them to last.

 

[M.R.S.]

I bought a '90 740 for my wife recently, the black leather interior was
fine.

Some cracks, no tears.

I conditioned it, and regularly condition it: soft, supple, should last
nearly forever.

People, these cars are like human relationships: you gotta put in time
and effort to maintain them if you want them to last.

I have an '87 760GLE, and I can't believe how good the leather looks for the
age and mileage!! IT'S great!

BTW: I see many other cars with horrible leather interiors that suffer from
cracking and such, often after 2-3 years of "regular" use by 165lb
men/women!!

I prefer harder leather, like in my 760.

 

[missy elliot]

i have a ten year old 850, leather is very good, the older volvos have
tougher leather than the new ones ie: s80 as this is very supple. as
the above statement, you MUST look after it with a good leather feed
liquid, should last forever.

col

 

[Administrator]

My sister owns a V70 thats about 11 years old. I've noticed in her car
what I've noticed in a few Volvos--that the leather seems to crack and
degrade, not aging gracefully. I am considering purchasing a 2002 to 2004
S80. Should I be concerned? Has the quality of leather improved yet?

Duke

Forget Volvo leather. Mine began to wrinkle badly after about ten
months. After 2.5 years of ownership, despite slathering the drivers'
seat with Lexol and every other so-called "Wonder" preparation,
including leatherique, it's looking worse and worse. this is on an 03
XC70. On the other hand, my 84 two door turbo's leather is still soft,
and although wrinkled, looks ten times better than my XC. Given the
fact that here in Las Vegas, interior temps often exceed 200 degrees
during the summer with windows closed, co-workers that own Town Cars or
Crown Vic's with leather...that are older than my car and also are
parked outside all the time (my car is always garaged...even at work),
look better than my leather, even though one woman in my office claims
that she only cleans her leather with WINDEX!!!!! Can you believe? She
is the one with an optioned-out Crown Vic with the interceptor
suspension that I mentioned in this group a couple of months ago.

 

[Administrator]

wrote:

In <[email protected]>,



That's quite a feat. The V70 has been available stateside since 1998 (maybe
'97 in the European market).




All leather has to be regularly conditioned. Car seats get exposed to
extremes in temperature (sometimes over a short period of time - hot day
turn the AC on, cold day turn the heater on). Routine conditioning keeps
the leather supple, and prevents cracking.

"Routine conditioning"....you mean like every damned week?

 

[Administrator]

I bought a '90 740 for my wife recently, the black leather interior was
fine.

Some cracks, no tears.

I conditioned it, and regularly condition it: soft, supple, should last
nearly forever.

People, these cars are like human relationships: you gotta put in time
and effort to maintain them if you want them to last.

Baloney!
You don't have to slather your lover with Lexol in order to keep him or
her from deteriorating. Volvo leather used to last for twenty years
with ordinary, minimal upkeep. Most relationships don't last that long.
Unfortunately, there are no warrantees on relationships. Unfortunately,
there are no warrantees on leather interiors either.

 

[Administrator]

I have an '87 760GLE, and I can't believe how good the leather looks for the
age and mileage!! IT'S great!

BTW: I see many other cars with horrible leather interiors that suffer from
cracking and such, often after 2-3 years of "regular" use by 165lb
men/women!!

I prefer harder leather, like in my 760.

Sorry, but leather is not mileage dependent.

 

[Administrator]

i have a ten year old 850, leather is very good, the older volvos have
tougher leather than the new ones ie: s80 as this is very supple. as
the above statement, you MUST look after it with a good leather feed
liquid, should last forever.

col

Should but doesn't doesn't.